Jewish students say anti-Semitism is common at UK universities

Like many campuses in the UK, Cardiff University has seen pro-Palestinian protests in recent years and Oliver says he believes some of the behavior he’s seen has crossed the line from criticism of Israel to anti-Semitism.

Blaming Jewish people for the actions of the Israeli government is a form of anti-Semitism., According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Union.

“That first year was terrible,” he said.

“You go home and you say, ‘Do I continue? Do I try to go to the next day?’ You think so.”

Oliver said he stopped speaking Hebrew outside the house and hid a Star of David pendant when he was in the yard.

Above the following Oliver said the anti-Semitic abuse he faced during his three years at university had become “non-stop”.

“I’ve been in clubs (or) walking around uni and you hear these talks and you see leaflets being handed out saying your faith and your history is fake,” he said.

“I was at a house party when someone found out I was Jewish and started calling me Netanyahu behind my back.

“As soon as you find out about my religion and decide you’re a bad person.”

Oliver said he often felt “swept under the rug” at the university when he reported anti-Semitic incidents against him and others.

Although he says that some positive steps have been taken, he feels that more needs to be done.

Cardiff University said it regretted that “no student is at risk of safety” on campus and that it follows a “zero-tolerance approach to all forms of harassment and discrimination”.

He said there was no place for anti-Semitism or hatred at the university and that they had a “robust procedure” to investigate allegations of anti-Semitism. He said that the university will take appropriate action wherever found.

He stated that he contacted the Jewish Association of the university and urged the students to point out the situations they faced.